VoLTE accelerates the Indian mobile internet evolution

The next generation of wireless communications technology, Long Term Evolution (LTE) is accelerating the mobile internet evolution that is helping the larger audience to be connected through one network.

Technology never stands still and with newer technologies being adopted as mainstream trends, the future of network industry is taking a new shape. The next generation of wireless communications technology, Long Term Evolution (LTE) is accelerating the mobile internet evolution that is helping the larger audience to be connected through one network. Voice services provided by the telecom industries are playing a major role as being a main communication channel for the users. VoLTE stands for voice calls that is provisioned over a 4G LTE data network and basically allows voice to become just another app that rides on a LTE data network.

VoLTE leads the next 4G evolution

According to Kleiner Perkins’ Internet Trends Report 2017, India’s monthly wireless data consumption soared to 1.3 billion GB a month in March 2017 as against 200 million GB a month in June 2016. There are various drivers that lead to the rise in VoLTE evolution. When we look closer at the recent developments, you have government initiatives driving adoption of a digital way of living- facilitating digital payments through smartphones, which drives greater concern around a smartphone’s ability to protect data and the user simultaneously.

Clearly, 2016 has been the year of 4G. In this one year, itself, we have seen telecom operators increase their 4G coverage throughout the country and new players have come in. 4G handsets are seeing an unprecedented growth such as Samsung and Micromax focussing on making only 4G VoLTE supporting handsets which helps in building the larger consumer base.

In fact, today brands are teaming up with telcos to offer free voice and low-cost data to smartphone consumers which is serving as a win-win for both handset players and telecom companies.

While the hardware and software plot continues to develop, this is the most opportune time to educate, advocate and bring together the first generation of mobile users together, connecting the under-explored Bharat and connecting them to the larger Digital India dream.

Great technology but there are challenges ahead

VoLTE presents the next step change in mobile voice services and service providers should be able to satisfy the customer as LTE provides larger bandwidth for people to consume heavy online content such as videos, games and stream events. But mobile network operators face several challenges in rolling out VoLTE, both in terms of business and technical. Business challenges include meeting customer expectations which have been set after they have been used to years of reliable voice calls. Strong competition from OTT players means that the new VoLTE service must be better than previous voice services these customers had otherwise they may not consider to adopt it.

4G coverage is the key to mass adoption of VoLTE service

In India, due to the diverse need of the huge population and vast area, the service providers or operators have struggled to maintain quality of service, even though they made a lot of efforts. The data coverage also has inconsistency in the rural parts of the country.

Operators in India should focus their 4G services not only in some of the Metropolitan cities and urban towns but also in rural areas to improve the quality consistency. Currently Jio has done this part and is able to get a huge number of customers onboard.

Bringing it together

Telecom Industry is coming up with competitive 4G tariffs like Reliance Jio is introducing exciting offers which is leading to a larger adoption of its network. With every service provider dishing out their own lucrative offers, and better internet speed, the country is at the cusp of embracing a digital revolution.

Mobile phones are being touted as one of the greatest mediums of change - like giving people access to financial services and providing health services. Mobile data services would help to tackle key issues plaguing education, health, finance, agriculture and governance in India. On the consumer side, the increase in smartphone adoption and a growing demand for internet-based services, such as chat, social media, video, and music through the mobile medium, will accelerate growth in mobile internet usage.

The need of the hour therefore is to make data in the smartphones more accessible to an Indian consumer, power the next phase of data adoption in the country by hand-holding consumers to upgrade to a VoLTE service. A journey that can only be made if a compelling device and data cost is made available to the users at competitive pricing.

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